Cowboy Seeks a Bride. Louise M. Gouge

and she’d often practiced what she would talk about with him. Even though she’d been uncertain about the marriage, she’d looked forward to making his acquaintance, perhaps even gaining his friendship. Now that she knew his true character, those goals seemed less appealing. What would he say when she told him she had found a job? What would he do?

      * * *

      Guilt and nervousness vied for control of Rand’s thoughts as he drove toward town. Nate and Tolley had insisted they would take care of today’s chores, but he still felt responsible for doing his share. It was all Susanna’s fault. She and Nate were staying in the big house while his parents and sister were back East, and his sweet little sister-in-law had wheedled the truth out of him about Marybeth’s reticence to marry right away. She’d insisted he must get busy courting.

      “If Lizzy were feeling better, I’d say bring Marybeth out here today,” she’d told him over breakfast. Rand’s two-year-old niece had come down with a cold and had clung to her mother while she ate. “First thing next week, you have to do that.” She’d encouraged her fussy baby to take a bite of toast, but Lizzy had refused. “How about a picnic? Today isn’t too soon. Nate and I went on a picnic my second day here. His courage in facing down those Indians made him a hero in my eyes and went a long way toward winning my heart.”

      Nate had beamed at his bride’s praise as he’d nudged Rand’s arm. “Go ahead, brother. Rita can pack a basket while you get old Sam hitched up to the buggy. You can drive into town and surprise Marybeth. Ladies like to be surprised, don’t they, sweetheart?”

      Susanna had batted her eyelashes at Nate as if they were still courting. Rand admitted to himself that he’d like to have Marybeth look at him that way. Seated across the table, Tolley had just groaned.

      “Sí, Senor Rand.” Rita, the family cook, had a little courting going on herself with one of the cowhands. “I’ll have everything ready in fifteen minutes.”

      “Well,” Rand had drawled, still uncertain. “I did promise Marybeth a hike in the mountains.” He’d stirred a bite of griddlecake into a puddle of syrup on his plate. “I also promised we’d have a chaperone.”

      All eyes had turned toward Tolley, who’d shoved back from the table, shaking his head. “No, sir. Not me. I’ve got all those chores to do, yours and mine. Got cows to milk, stalls to muck out, mustangs to break, fences to check and a whole bunch of other stuff.” He’d stood and started toward the door like a scared rabbit. “Helping with her trunk was one thing, but I refuse to play duenna while you two make eyes at each other. Find somebody else.”

      “But you’d look so purty in a lace mantilla,” Nate had quipped.

      Rita had giggled and Susanna had laughed. Tolley’s response was to slam the back door on his way out.

      Bouncing Lizzy on her lap, Susanna had said, “Why not stop by Maisie and John’s and invite them along?”

      So now Rand drove old Sam toward town with a large, well-packed picnic basket secured to the back of the buggy and a prayer in his heart that Doc and Maisie would be free today. If they weren’t, maybe Mrs. Foster would go. Of course that would mean they couldn’t go hiking because it would be too hard on the older lady, but they could go up to a meadow by the river. He couldn’t decide which chaperone he preferred. Having either one hear his every word would only add to his nervousness as he tried to become better acquainted with Marybeth.

      As if that wasn’t enough indecision for a man to have, he also had to figure out what to tell her about Hardison. While Nate had advised him not to worry her with the gunslinger’s threats, Tolley thought she ought to know what the man had said in regard to her. Rand usually took his cautious older brother’s advice, and yet he couldn’t entirely dismiss the idea that she should be on the lookout for danger. As peaceful as the Esperanza community was, as caring the folks were about one another, there was always a chance of getting bit by a sneaky snake in the grass.

      At the Henshaws’ two-story house several blocks from Mrs. Foster’s, he found three waiting patients seated in the front hallway. He greeted them with concern over their health even as his heart took a dip. Obviously his friends wouldn’t be able to get away for a picnic. Before he could leave, Doc came out of the surgery.

      “You’re just in time, Rand. You can give me a hand.” Doc took him out the side door to a wagon, from which they unloaded a leather-topped oak examining table and carried it into the surgery.

      With the new furniture in place, Doc eyed Rand up and down. “Now, what can I do for you? I should have asked you that before I put you to work.”

      “Say—” Maisie came in the room before Rand could answer “—shouldn’t you be over at Mrs. Foster’s house courting that pretty little bride of yours?” She punctuated her question with a wink, a rowdy laugh and a slap on his arm.

      “Uh, yeah. That’s where I’m headed.” Why had he thought inviting them would be a good idea? Maisie had a good heart, and he loved her like a sister, but she also had a loose tongue. He wouldn’t even waste time asking for sure if she’d told Marybeth about his past.

      “But—” Doc said.

      Not giving Doc a chance to finish, Rand made his escape, dashing back to the buggy and heading toward Mrs. Foster’s house.

      Pretty piano music came through the open front window and Rand paused to listen to the end of the song. If that was Marybeth, she wasn’t bad, but not quite as good as Mrs. Foster. Of course she’d said she needed to practice, so he mustn’t be too quick to judge.

      When Mrs. Foster admitted him, however, he saw that Laurie Eberly was just finishing her piano lesson. At fourteen years of age, Maisie’s next-to-youngest sister had a bit more musical talent than her four sisters, and she liked to sing. That was, when she wasn’t batting her eyes at Tolley like all the other younger girls. No wonder his brother was skittish about courting with every young girl in the territory making eyes at him, and him not even ready to court. Rand had suffered through that same phase several years ago.

      “Make yourself comfortable, Rand.” Mrs. Foster waved him toward the settee as she started up the staircase. “I’ll fetch Marybeth. I’m sure Laurie won’t mind an audience, will you, dear?”

      “No, ma’am. I’d love it.” Laurie glanced over Rand’s shoulder as if looking for somebody and then gave him a sisterly smile. “What’s Tolley doing today? Busy at the ranch, I suppose.”

      “Oh, he’s real busy.” Rand had his own romance problems, so he sure didn’t want to stir up anything that would annoy his younger brother. He sat, hat in hand, and realized his palms were sweaty. Who would have guessed courting could be so difficult?

      “Maybe I’ll ride out there after my lesson and visit Susanna.” Laurie set her fingers on the keys and began to play a song Rand wasn’t familiar with.

      He couldn’t figure out a way to discourage her from going out to the ranch and pestering Tolley, especially since Susanna probably would appreciate a visit. Like all of the Eberly sisters, Laurie would be a big help with the sick baby.

      “Hello, Rand.” Marybeth entered the parlor looking refreshed from her travels. Beautiful, in fact, with her pretty auburn hair piled high on her head and her eyes more blue than hazel today because of that blue dress. As he stood to greet her, his heart leaped into his throat. “I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow. Is everything all right?”

      He had to clear his throat before he could talk. “Hello.” Was that dismay or worry in her eyes?

      “Now, Marybeth.” Mrs. Foster stood by her with an arm around her waist. Their already comfortable relationship would encourage him if he weren’t so nervous. “Can’t a young man come calling unannounced?”

      “Oh, yes. Of course.” Marybeth seemed to force a smile. “How are you today, Rand?”

      “I’m well, thank you.” He felt the strain in his own smile. “And you?”

      “Well,